State Cup to Introduce Group Play in the Opening Round

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

May 28, 2013-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that its State Cup format will change in the future to a group stage in the opening round. This format is similar to the format used by the popular UEFA Champions League, which played its final last Saturday. These changes will be in place for the 2013-14 State Cup season.

There will be a random draw used in both the State Open Cup and Arch Capital Group Cup competitions. Teams are guaranteed a minimum of three games and three officials will be requested for matches.

"Our players practice for months preparing for the State Cup and the coaches asked us for a format that prevents a team from being eliminated after the first game," commented ENYYSA President Richard Christiano. "Switching to group play in the opening round accomplishes this by guaranteeing every team is scheduled at least three State Cup games."

Teams that win the State Open Cup and advance to Regionals will have their remaining entry fees covered by Eastern New York. We will also be providing $2,000 in financial support of teams going to Regionals and $2,000 of additional support for teams advancing to the Nationals.

Registration begins on June 1 for the 2013-14 State Cup. To register your team, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

With 123,843 youth soccer players––68,587 boys and 55,256 girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 12 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. Eastern New York exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Special Children. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. Eastern New York is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.